Torpedo-setting device.



R. KEPNER; TORPEDO SETTING DEVICE.

4 APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1913. 1,095,000. Patented Apr,28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- R. KEPNER. TQRPEDO SETTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1913.

1,095,000. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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noY KEIBNER, or en ELMO, ILLINOIS.

TORPEDO-SETTING DEVICE.

To all whom iz may concern: Be it known that I, ROY KEPNER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at St. 7

Elmo, in the county of Fayette and State of Illinois, have invented newand useful Improvements in Torpedo-Setting Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for applying or setting signaltorpedoes on railroad tracks, the primary object of the invention beingto provide a device of this character WhlC-h is adapted to be mountedupon the rear car of a'train and operated while the train is running toafiix a torpedo to the track, to give a signal to a'following train. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a torpedo setting devicewhich may be employed for successively setting two tor: pedoes at adistance from each other along the track when desired, and which issimple, reliable, eflicient and compact in character, adapted to fold upwhen not in use and to be readily and conveniently manipulated.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction combinationand arrangement of ,parts hereinafter fully described and claimed,reference bein had to the accompanying drawings in whic Figure 1 is aview elevation of the rear platform of a railway car illustrating theapplication of the invention thereto and showing the device as itappears after setting a single torpedo. Fig. 2 is a side elevationshowing the parts of the device as they appear just after setting asecond torpedo. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the device in foldedposition. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the parts as illustrated in Fig.2. -Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the mode of holding a torpedoin one of the clamps. Fig. 6 is a detail vie w of a. torpedo. Fig. 7 isa view showing the torpedo applied to a track.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a torpedo settingdevice comprising a pair of setting arms 1 and 2, the arm 2 beingrelatively shorter than the arm 1 and pivotally connected thereto atitsinner end, as indicated at 3. The outer ends of the setting arms reprovided with clamps 4, each consisting of a plurality of spring jaws ofa character adapted to grip a tor pedo 5 ofthe type to be set. As shown,the torpedo 5 includes a spring clamp 6 having relatively diverging arms7 adapted on Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Application filed July 1, 1913. Serial No. 776,861.

Patented A r. 28, 1914.

coming in contact with the head of the rail to spread upon and engageover the opposite sides of the rail head allowing the clamp 6 to firmlygrip the rail and hold the torpedo 5 in position.

The setting arm 2 is adapted to fold in parallel relation to the arm 1,and to the said arms are respectively connected the outer ends of braces8 and 9 which are pivotally coupled thereto, the brace 1 9 beingpivotally connected at its inner end to the brace 8, as indicated at 10.By this construction the setting arms are adapted to be firmly heldagainst deflection and guided in their setting movements, and the shortand long arms are respectively arranged so that said short arm may beemployed alone for asetting action or the two arms operated insuccession at intervals. to place two torpedoes at desired distancesapart along a railway track.

. The inner ends of the arm 1 and brace 9 are pivotally engaged withpivot pins 12 and 13 on brackets 14 and 15 fastened at proper positionsapart on the end of the car platform, said pins 12 and 13 facing inopposite directions and so arranged that the said ends of the arm l andbrace 8 may be readily engaged therewith, and disengaged therefrom,'sothat the device may be applied to and removed from a car with ease andfacility.- A coiled contractile spring 16 connects the arm 1 with thebrace 8 and tends to draw the same together to hold said arm and braceconsequently in engagement with the pins 12 and 13 and to prevent-casualdisengagement therefrom. A chain or other lifting or controlling element17 is attached at one end to the arm 2 and at its opposite end to theend of the ear. By means of this chain the short setting arm may bedrawn upwardly, carrying with it the long setting arm so that the armsand their braces may be folded up and secured by means of the chain orotherwise in a vertical position against the end of the car when not inuse. When it'is desired to employ the device for setting a singletorpedo, the torpedo is fitted iirthe'clamp 4: of the arm 2 and said armallowed to drop by gravity by letting out a portion of the chain whilethe arm*1 is held'in an elevated position. In so dropping,

the outer arm 2 will come in contact w1th' one of the track rails andwill force the torpedo into engagement therewith in an 0bvious manner.The arm 2 may then be,

drawn up and the device secured again in folded position until'itsfurther service is desired. When two torpedoes are to be set, the arm 2is first released and dropped to apply a torpedo to the track, and at asuitable distance therefrom the arm 1 isthen dropped to applya seco ndtorpedo, the arms operating in this'connection without interference sothat two torpedoes may be set in a reliable manner to give successivesignals. 'From the foregoing description taken in connection with thedrawings, the construction and mode of use and advantages of myinvention will be readily understood without a further description, andit will be seen that the invention provides a device of the characterand for the purpose set forth which will efliciently perform itsintended functions and may be applied to and removed from any carequipped with pivot brackets in an easy and ready manner.

Having thus described my invention, I:

clann:

1. A torpedo setting device comprising a pair of long and short pivotedsetting arms one of said setting arms being pivoted to the other,torpedo'holding devices at the outer ends of said arms, braces pivotedto the arms and to each other, and means connected with the shorter armfor independently raising :10

a long setting arm pivpivot members, a short to said long arm, saidprovided at their free ends with torpedo holding means, a brace 40pivoted to the long setting arm and to the other pivot member, a secondbrace pivoted to the first-named brace and to the shorter setting arm, acontractile spring connecting the first-named brace with the longersetting arm, and a raising and lowering element connected with theshorter setting arm.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROY KEPN ER.

Witnesses:

C. I. Scorr, S. A. PINKLEY.

